Mashonda Karima Dean (née Tifrere; born January 9, 1978) is an American R&B singer from Boston, Massachusetts. In 2004, she married record producer Swizz Beatz and signed with his record label Full Surface Records, an imprint of J Records to release her debut studio album, January Joy (2005). In 2011, Dean joined the first season of VH1's reality show Love & Hip Hop: New York.[2]
Mashonda | |
|---|---|
 Dean in 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Mashonda Karima Tifrere[1] |
| Born | January 9, 1978 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Labels | |
| Children | 1 |
Musical career
editIn 1998, Mashonda signed a publishing deal with Warner Chapel Music. She subsequently wrote for singer Monifah and worked with Full Force. The following year, she signed a recording contract with Columbia Records.[3]
In 1999, she was featured on American rapper Jay-Z's single "Girl's Best Friend", for the soundtrack to the film Blue Streak. The song, produced by Swizz Beatz, was also included as a hidden track on Jay-Z's fourth studio album Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter (1999). Mashonda's vocals also featured on American rapper Eve's song "Gotta Man", produced by Beatz, from her debut studio album Let There Be Eve...Ruff Ryders' First Lady (1999).[citation needed] Mashonda went on to make guest appearances on American rapper Cassidy's "Get No Better", produced by Beatz, from his album Split Personality (2004),[4] and American rapper Fat Joe's Beatz-produced song "Listen Baby", from his 2005 album All or Nothing.[citation needed]
Mashonda's debut album January Joy, produced by Beatz, Kanye West, and Raphael Saadiq, was released in November 2005 in Japan. The album was supported by two singles, co-written by Beatz: "Back of da Club", featuring Beatz, and "Blackout" featuring Snoop Dogg.[citation needed] In March 2009, she released a mixtape titled The Renovation Series.[citation needed]. Mashonda took time off from her music career to raise her son.
Other ventures
editMashonda was the author of a column, "Pandora's Box", on Vibe Vixen.[5]
Mashonda authored a book on co-parenting, titled Blend: The Secret to Co-Parenting and Creating a Balanced Family (2018), with contributions from co-parents Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys.[6][7]
Personal life
editMashonda began dating the record producer Kasseem Dean, known as Swizz Beatz, in 1998. She became pregnant, but suffered a miscarriage in 2000. She was the stepmother to Dean's son from a previous relationship, Prince Nasir;[8] he was born during her pregnancy and she named him.[9] Mashonda and Dean married in 2004.[10] Their son, Kasseem Dean, Jr., was born in 2006.[19] In 2008, the couple announced their break up. According to Dean, they had already been separated for nine or ten months by June of that year. The divorce was finalized in May 2010, with the couple citing irreconcilable differences.[20][10][21]
Discography
editStudio albums
edit- January Joy (2005)
- Note To Self (2022)
Mixtapes
edit- The Renovation Series (2009)
- Love, Mashonda (2012)
Singles
edit- As lead artist
- 2005: Back Of Da Club
- 2006: Black Out (feat. Snoop Dogg)
- 2006: Used To (Promo Only)
- 2009: Dirty Laundry (feat. Eve)
- 2009: No Panties (Buzz Single)
- 2011: Intrigued (Buzz Single)
- 2011: Juicy Fruit
- 2012: Touch Me
- 2012: Mystery (feat. Lil Mo)
- 2020: King
- 2021: Honey, I See You
- 2022: Forbidden Fruit
- 2022: Positive Distraction
- 2022: Complicated
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | U.S. R&B | ||||||||||||
| "Girl's Best Friend" (Jay-Z featuring Mashonda) |
1999 | 52 | 19 | Blue Streak: The Album and Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter | |||||||||
| "Get No Better" (Cassidy featuring Mashonda) |
2003 | 79 | 51 | Split Personality | |||||||||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or receive certification. | |||||||||||||
Guest appearances
edit| Title | Year | Album | Other artist(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Crazy Girl" | 2001 | Rush Hour 2 (soundtrack) | LL Cool J |
| "Kiss Is Spittin'" | Kiss tha Game Goodbye | Jadakiss, Nate Dogg | |
| "You Could Be Blind" | The Great Depression | DMX | |
| "Be Me" | Scorpion | Eve | |
| "S.H.Y.N.E." | 2002 | Swizz Beatz Presents G.H.E.T.T.O. Stories | Shyne |
| "Ghetto Love" | LL Cool J | ||
| "Wanna Be Like Him" | God's Favorite | N.O.R.E. | |
| "Party in the Rain" | Eve-Olution | Eve | |
| "This Is Who I Am" | 2003 | La Bella Mafia | Lil' Kim, Swizz Beatz |
| "S.H.Y.N.E." | 2004 | Godfather Buried Alive | Shyne |
| "So Long" | 2005 | I'm a Hustla | Cassidy, Raekwon |
| "Listen Baby" | All or Nothing | Fat Joe | |
| "Take a Trip" | 2007 | B.A.R.S. The Barry Adrian Reese Story | Cassidy |
| "Luv Me Tomorrow" | 2012 | Black Hero Theme Musik | Omen, Karina Pasian, Amanda Seales, The Force |
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Love & Hip Hop: New York | Herself | Supporting Role (Season 1) |
References
edit- ^ "Mashonda » Biography, Pictures, Forum, Videos, News, Photos". Perfectpeople.net. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
- ^ "Vh1: Love & Hip Hop (Trailer)". Hip Hop N More. February 11, 2011. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
- ^ "Didnt Cha Know 5 Hit Records Mashonda Wrote". Vibe.com. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
- ^ "Cassidy's "Get No Better"". VIBE. July 13, 2010. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
- ^ "VIBE Vixen". Archived from the original on December 29, 2011. Retrieved June 15, 2012.
- ^ "Swizz Beatz's Ex Mashonda Tifrere Opens Up About Co-Parenting with Her Ex and His Wife Alicia Keys". People. May 17, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
- ^ "Inside Alicia Keys and Mashonda Tifrere's Blended Family Friendship: 'We Have Girl Talk'". People. October 4, 2018. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
- ^ "Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys' Kids: All About Their Blended Family". People. October 16, 2023.
- ^ a b "Vibe Magazine Part 4 Mashonda Cover Story Interview". Vibe. July 13, 2010. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ^ a b "Mashonda: Swizz Beatz is a deadbeat who owes big money". New York Daily News. May 18, 2010. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ^ "Vibe Magazine Part 1 Mashonda Cover Story Interview". Vibe. July 13, 2010. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ^ "Vibe Magazine Part 2 Mashonda Cover Story Interview". Vibe. July 13, 2010. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ^ "Vibe Magazine Part 3 Mashonda Cover Story Interview". Vibe. July 13, 2010. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ^ "Vibe Magazine Part 5 Mashonda Cover Story Interview". Vibe. July 14, 2010. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ^ "Vibe Magazine Part 6 Mashonda Cover Story Interview". Vibe. July 14, 2010. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ^ "Vibe Magazine Part 7 Mashonda Cover Story Interview". Vibe. July 14, 2010. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ^ "Vibe Magazine Part 8 Mashonda Cover Story Interview". Vibe. July 14, 2010. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ^ "Vibe Magazine Part 9 Mashonda Cover Story Interview". Vibe. July 14, 2010. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
- ^ [11][12][13][9][14][15][16][17][18]
- ^ "Swizz Beatz addresses Alicia Keys Rumors, Reveals Michael Jackson Tour Deal". MTV. June 16, 2018. Archived from the original on June 13, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- ^ Elliott Wilson and Brian "B.Dot" Miller (November 26, 2015). "Rap Radar Podcast - Swizz Beatz on Alicia Keys relationship". Rap Radar (Podcast). Play.it. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2018.